England's Football League has emerged as a possible bidder for ITV Digital, the financially crippled pay-TV business that owes soccer millions of pounds to televise matches, sources close to the league said yesterday.

The unexpected twist came as ITV Digital's administrators began sounding out potential buyers for the firm after losing hope of settling the £178.5 million dispute with the league over money due for broadcast rights.

Sources close to the administrators, Deloitte & Touche, said there were two or three interested parties. Other sources said the League, desperate for cash to stop clubs going bust, was contemplating a joint bid with a broadcaster. No one at the League was immediately available to comment.